Calderon, left, has said winning the fight against drug gangs is his priority [REUTERS]

Francisco Gomez-Mont was handed the second-highest post in Mexico after the presidency by Felipe Calderon, the country's president, on Monday.

"His extensive knowledge of criminal law will be very useful in this stage of implementing the constitutional reforms in security and justice," Calderon said.

Gomez Mont, in his mid-forties, has been seen as a surprise choice as he is not from Calderon's inner circle, although both men graduated from the same law school.

As a lawyer, he has represented powerful bankers and businessmen accused of fraud.

Javier Lozano, Mexico's labour minister, said: "He's a magnificent lawyer. He's a man with a firm hand ...  the arrival of Fernando Gomez-Mont should fill us with hope."

Bribery and intimidation

Calderon has made winning the so-called "drug war" a cornerstone of his presidency.

Violence involving the army, federal police and rival gangs has killed more than 4,000 people across Mexico this year.

With mid-term congressional elections due in July 2009, Calderon said he had asked Gomez-Mont to work to keep drug gangs from interfering with elections.

Calderon has warned in the past that drug cartels have tried to intimidate and bribe candidates.

Effectively a vice president, Mexico's interior minister is in charge of domestic security but also works with opposition parties to drive the government's agenda in congress.

As an independent lawyer, Gomez-Mont defended high-profile clients such as ex-president Carlos Salinas, a former director of oil monopoly Pemex, and the Canal 40 television network.

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